When the whole Web Analytics thing started there was not much experience to draw from on how to model behavior of online audiences. It was assumed that they behaved somewhat similar to real world customers, and that we had a good idea how we could analyse them.

Despite all the things we do not know we usually maintain that there is a standard of quality to which we can hold our data, and that by this standard we can judge the results we arrive at based on this data. This idea is known as validity.

Stackoverflow, my favorite Q&A-site, once again plans to extend its’ territory and create a site for software documentation. They seem to assume that their successful recipe for SO transfers nicely to this new endeavor. I am a bit sceptical – this seems to much like an attempt to uberize heart surgery after a successful trial run on teaching how to apply band-aids.